'Safety risks' prevent Wirral Transport Museum from reopening

The museum on Taylor Street in Birkenhead has been closed since 20 April

The discovery of "hazardous substances risks" stopped a museum from reopening, a heritage organisation has said.

Wirral Transport Museum closed on 20 April ahead of an inspection by a health and safety watchdog and was expected to reopen afterwards.

However, "significant contraventions of health and safety law" were found.

Big Heritage said the closure was an "inconvenience, but no inconvenience supersedes public safety and the risk to life of visitors and volunteers".

While a prohibition notice was not issued by the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) at the time of the inspection, Big Heritage said procedures had been put in place "to monitor and record a range of health and safety and control of hazardous substances risks."

'Frustrated'

The company, which finalised its takeover of the museum on 17 November from Wirral Council, also said a model railway donated 20 years ago was removed as it posed a serious fire risk and was in a poor state of repair.

It is now seeking to raise between £5m and £6m to transform the museum, including doubling its size.

In a statement on its website, Big Heritage, which also manages the Western Approaches Museum in Liverpool, said: "We have every sympathy with volunteers and visitors who have been frustrated at this situation.

"But we can attest that Wirral Council took the results of the inspection very seriously and have spent considerable time and resources to address the issues raised as quickly as possible."

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: "Ahead of the transfer of the building, there were several issues identified by the council and the ORR report that needed to be addressed and which required the facility to remain closed so the work could be carried out safely.

"The security and upkeep of the building is now in the hands of Big Heritage CIC, while the council-owned heritage trams are on loan to them, with specific contractual requirements around their safety, security and maintenance.

"The council is committed to providing ongoing support to all parties with an interest in the future success of the Wirral Transport Museum."